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6 FT Digital Audio Optical TOSLink Cable Optic 6ft
List Price: $10.02
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Connectors: Toslink Male to Toslink Male; Cable Length: 6 feet; OD 5.0; Cable Color: Black; Designed for CD, D/A Converters, Dolby Digital DTS Surround sound receivers, DVD, MiniDisk players and recorders, Pro Audio cards, etc...
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Optic Optical Audio
When connecting a digital audio optical cable, do I need to keep my 6-channel direct cable connected as well?
planning on ordering an optic Audio Cable for my PC/z5500 sound setup, I am wondering if I need to attach both the optic cable AND 6-channel direct cable or just the optic cable itself, thanks so much in advance.
Oh, and does the quality of the sound (optical) make a significant increase in quality to my sounds in music/movies?
A digital audio output contains ALL of the audio channels in the digital domain. If you are referring to the discreet analog audio RCA connections on some DVD players then the answer is no, you do not need to have these hooked up also. The optical cable takes the place of all of those RCAs. Since the information traveling from your source to your a/v receiver is in digital format, it must be converted to analog format. This happens inside of the a/v receiver via the built in digital to analog converter or DAC. The quality of the sound will only improve by using the optical cable if the a/v receiver's built-in DAC is of better quality than that of the DVD player's. If the DVD player has the better quality DAC then you are better off using the discreet channel RCA hookup method. You would have to know the technical specifications such as bitrate, oversampling, etc. of the DACs and their meaning in order to determine which is better quality. Or just ask someone that would know. The benefits of using an optical cable are that you only have to use that one cable for audio and the fact that an optical cable, although pretty fragile, is immune to noise interference. Either way, a digital signal must always be converted to analog before we can listen to it through speakers so the conversion has to happen somewhere along the path. I hope this helps.
Audio Cables
Here are types of audio cables for your home theater system. And comments about the pros and cons of each are discusses for our review.
Coax Digital Audio (S/PDIF) - This offers digital connection with copper cables, most generally Coax. Cables are long. And Dolby Digital 5.1, 7.1, DTS etc. is supported. However, the copper cables mess with run into interference. Neither DVD-A or SACD are supported.
Firewire - This offers digital connection with large bandwidth, multichannel audio. Highly compatible and choice for some HTPCs, new receivers, STB's, DVD's and with Digital Audio Workstations; and may have some support for DVD-A and SACD. However, lacks locking connector, also disconnects easily; so audio-only interface is main reason for use with a lot of systems at this time, except for use with Set Top Boxes, audio and video with camcorder use, HDTV's and Digital VCR's.
Toslink – This offers digital connection without electrical interference, great for digital audio signals with compatible equipment; Digital Cable / DVD/Satellite Receiver with Toslink connector compat. Dolby Digital 5.1, 7.1, DTS etc. However, cable length is limited, the cables aren't sturdy and they disconnect too quickly and easily. You will need fiber optic cables or repeaters for lengthy cable reaches. Neither is there is any DVD-A or SACD support, nor locking connector.
HDMI - This offers a digital connection with great quality electrical interface transmitting up to 1080p video plus 8 channels of 192kHz audio. Great with both digital audio and video via one interface. However, they lack locking connectors and easily disconnect.
Stereo - Features analog audio, with dual RCA plug cables usually, and two channels, left and right. If your equipment is not compatible with digital audio, analog stereo is next choice. However, this lacks surround sound, unless simulated.
Denon Link – DL3 of SACD combined with DVD-A. However, only comes with Denon goods.
Mono - you don't want this, forget about it!
So check out your own equipment and system compatibility. There are many types of audio cables for your home theater system. And you want to select the best for your home theater experience and enjoyment.
About the Author
Hyun Kim is a freelance writeer who writes about home audio & home theater topics. He loves to visit Stereo|411 to read about Home Theater Receivers & home theater reviews.
US $64.95
